A RAF veteran and widower, who was 'too proud' to seek help when he started to go blind, says the support of a sight loss charity completely changed his life.

Norman Green, 87, was struggling with the double blow of losing his vision and his wife but was worried that his independence would be threatened if he admitted he was struggling.

However, since being put in contact with Blind Veterans UK last year the former instrument mechanic from Beeston has visited the rehabilitation centres on several occasions for training and respite, received specialist equipment to help him around his home, and been given a grant to help with the cost of maintaining his garden.

He is now urging others to do the same - indeed it is estimated more than 850 Nottinghamshire veterans could qualify the free lifelong financially, emotional and physical support.

“It’s hard to admit that you’re going blind, particularly when you’re used to being independent," said Mr Green, speaking ahead of National Eye Health Week (September 18-24). "I’ll admit my pride stopped me seeking help when I probably needed it the most. I wish now that I’d got in touch with Blind Veterans UK much sooner.”

Joining the RAF in 1950, a decision based on his childhood love of aircrafts, Mr Green trained as an instrument mechanic, a job that took him all over the world, and he spent a large proportion of his Service in Gibraltar working with Coastal Command.

“The reality of that time in my life was a lot less glamourous than many people realise. We worked late at night fixing aircrafts in all kinds of brutal weather conditions, but I was motivated by the fact that I knew it was an important job,” he said.

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Mr Green completed his service in 1953 and lost his sight later in life due to macular degeneration. Two years ago he was dealt another blow when his wife of 61 years sadly passed away and he found himself struggling with both blindness and becoming a widower. Mr Green was eventually told about the free, lifelong support of Blind Veterans UK by Geoff Pickance, an Eye Clinic Liaison Officer at the Queen’s Medical Centre.

Mr Pickance knows all too well how isolating blindness can be. After losing his own sight due to glaucoma, he decided to pursue a career in supporting other vision-impaired people, giving them recommendations and signposting them to additional support.

He said: “When I see people for the first time they can be ever so depressed about the things they can’t do anymore. Charities like Blind Veterans UK are important because they show people with sight loss that they are not alone.”

Mr Green added: “Blind Veterans UK has changed my life in all sorts of ways. I’ve stayed at the charity’s centres several times and I’ve met other blind veterans which has made me feel less lonely. I’ve also been trained in how to use a tablet so that I can contact my family who live on the other side of the country. To blind veterans like me I’d say this: don’t struggle with sight loss alone, because there is support out there.”

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Blind Veterans UK is the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, providing practical and emotional support to help veterans discover life beyond sight loss.

The charity estimates that there are currently more than 850 blind veterans in Nottinghamshire that would be eligible to access its specialist support, most of whom are not currently aware of it.

If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces or did National Service and is now battling severe sight loss, contact Blind Veterans UK on 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk.

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